Police accuse Palisades Park man of illegal sexual activity

PALISADES PARK — A 20-year-old borough man was in the county jail Monday facing charges of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a 15-year old girl, according to authorities.

Malik S. Bell

Malik S. Bell, 20, was arrested Friday at his apartment on 12th Street, after police were notified that he had engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with the teen, an acquaintance, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.

The father of the victim, authorities said in the release, became aware of what had happened and contacted the Fort Lee Police Department, which then reached out to the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. An investigation led to the arrest of Bell.

Bell, who is unemployed, faces one count of sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said. Bergen County Superior Court Judge Rachelle L. Harz ordered Bell to have no contact with the victim, surrender his passport, and set bail at $200,000 with no option to pay 10 percent of that amount to secure his release.

Malik S. Bell, 20, was arrested Friday at his apartment on 12th Street, after police were notified that he had engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with the teen, an acquaintance, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office said in a press release.

The father of the victim, authorities said in the release, became aware of what had happened and contacted the Fort Lee Police Department, which then reached out to the Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit. An investigation led to the arrest of Bell.

Bell, who is unemployed, faces one count of sexual assault and one count of endangering the welfare of a child, authorities said. Bergen County Superior Court Judge Rachelle L. Harz ordered Bell to have no contact with the victim, surrender his passport, and set bail at $200,000 with no option to pay 10 percent of that amount to secure his release.